Mormon Women's Forum president
Lynne Kanavel Whitesides
1952–2025
Birth year: b. 10 Jan 1952; d. July 2025. Mormon Women's Forum president; disfellowshipped 1993. Salt Lake Tribune obituary — https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/saltlaketribune/name/lynne-whitesides-obituary?id=58878272
1 topic · 3 dated events · 1 source
Their part in each topic
The September Six
Mormon Women's Forum president
Whitesides spoke publicly on the Mother in Heaven and on women's spiritual authority. Hers was the first council of the month, on 14 September 1993, and the only one held at ward rather than stake level; her bishop barred even her husband from attending. She was disfellowshipped rather than excommunicated, appealed, and was denied. She has since said the discipline opened a spiritual world she had not known was possible.
In the timeline
3 events across 1 topics, chronological. Only events this person was actually part of — present at, responsible for, or the subject of — not every event where the name comes up.
Lynne Kanavel Whitesides is disfellowshipped
Hers was the first council and the only one held at ward level, before her bishop, his two counsellors, a clerk and the ward executive secretary. Her bishop had said she could bring a friend and her husband; on the night he barred her husband as well. Her friend Martha Pierce objected: 'You are thinking of dissolving this woman's temple marriage. Don't you think he has a vested interest in participating in this council?'
The Salt Lake Tribune reports the outcomeshinge
'Three men and three women have been charged with apostasy for their writing and speaking about Mormon subjects. Paul Toscano, Avraham Gileadi, D. Michael Quinn, Maxine Hanks and Lavina Fielding Anderson were excommunicated. Lynne Kanavel Whitesides was disfellowshiped.' The story ran on the eve of general conference; the New York Times put the affair on its front page and National Public Radio carried comments from Dallin H. Oaks.
The appeals are denied; more councils follow
The appeals of Anderson, Whitesides and Toscano were all denied. Anderson's stake president wrote that Church leaders had 'deliberated and pondered carefully and concluded that there was no reason to alter the decision.' She told the Tribune: 'I read the words. I believed they were written sincerely. But somehow, it doesn't feel like love.' David P. Wright declined to attend his council in February and was excommunicated; Brent Metcalfe and Michael Barrett were also expelled.
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Spiritual Paths After September 1993
Lynne Kanavel Whitesides, Paul James Toscano, Maxine Hanks, D. Michael Quinn and Lavina Fielding Anderson
Five of the six speaking together ten years afterward about what they decided, what it cost and where it took them.
Appears alongside
People who share the most dated events with Lynne Kanavel Whitesides.
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